LAKE WAIKAREMOANA AND TE UREWERA NATIONAL PARK
Like rough-cut emeralds, Lake Waikaremoana (Sea of Rippling waters) and its little sister, Lake Waikareiti, are set perfectly in the 225,000 hectares of Te Urewera national Park – the largest untouched native forest reserve in the North Island.
The lake – with its national park visitor centre at Aniwaniwa and accommodation and boat launching facilities at Home bay – is the focal point of a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Boating, sailing, lake kayaking, hiking, hunting and trout fishing being the highlights.
A network of long and short walking tracks provides access to scenic corners of this wilderness park and includes the internationally recognised 3 to 4 day hiking trail around the perimeter of Lake Waikaremoana. Serviced by Department of Conservation huts (bookings essential) and campsites this popular adventure is one of the “Great Walks of New Zealand.”
DISCOVER THE GREAT OUTDOORS This region is a great place to visit if you like wide open spaces and few people. The region is nearly half-a-million hectares in size with a total population of less than 10,000. Here, getting away from it all is not a cliché but a reality. There are uncounted scenic and historic locations where native bush, rippling rivers and lakes, quiet fishing spots and numerous waterfalls are waiting for you to find and enjoy.
In Te Urewera national Park there are six significant waterfalls – Aniwaniwa and Mokau being the more accessible – all surrounded by native bush. Other falls include the Te Reinga Falls, just off the Tiniroto Road, on the way to the world-famous trout river, the Ruakituri, which itself tumbles out of the mountains over the Waitangi Falls. Here too, on the slopes of Mount Whakapunake, there is an underground labyrinth of spectacular limestone caves.
There are guides and charter boats available for all hunting, fishing and hiking activities throughout the region.
LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK WALK
The Lake Waikaremoana Track, located within Te Urewera National Park, is a 46 kilometre, three to four day tramping track of moderate difficulty following the lakeshore for most of its length. Magnificent forested scenery and plenty of opportunity for swimming and fishing are features of the walk. It can be walked at any time of the year.
NATURAL HISTORY
Lake Waikaremoana was formed 2200 years ago by a huge landslide, which blocked a narrow gorge along the Waikaretaheke River. Water backed up behind this landslide to form a lake up to 248 metres deep. In 1946 a hydroelectric development lowered the lake level by 5 metres.
The area is formed from young mudstone, siltstone and sandstone, mostly about 10 -15 million years old. These sediments were originally part of the sea floor, but about two million years ago uplift brought them above sea level. The mountains and hills of the area have been shaped by continuous erosion. Major valleys like Aniwaniwa have been carved deeply from soft mudstones, while the more solid sandstones have tended to form ridges like Panekiri.
The vegetation of the Waikaremoana area is like a great green cloak, mantling countless ridges and valleys. There are more than 650 types of native plant present in the park, some very rare such as Dactylanthus, green and red mistletoes and ngutukaka. The vegetation pattern is ever changing; volcanic activity, fire, storms, possums and deer have modified the forest in many areas.
The forest is regenerating along the shore where the lake level was lowered for power generation. Many birds live in the forest. Among the more notable are tui, bellbird, fantail, tomtit, kaka, kakariki, North Island robin, New Zealand falcon, rifleman, and at night, morepork and North Island brown kiwi. Grey, mallard and paradise ducks are common on the lake edge, and New Zealand scaup, kingfishers and white faced herons are found in sheltered areas.
Visitors may get a sight and hear the sound of the endangered blue duck (whio) at the Aniwaniwa stream. Both of New Zealand's rare native bat species, the long-tailed and short-tailed, are present in the park. Deer, pigs and possums are found throughout Te Urewera National Park. They compete with native wildlife for food. Possums also eat young birds and eggs. In addition rats, stoats and ferrets abound, and in areas where predator control is not taking place they decimate native bird, reptile and invertebrate species.
The lake is suitable for most watercraft but conditions can change rapidly. Boat users are advised to carry approved safety equipment (it is now a requirement for every boat to carry a correct size, serviceable personal flotation device (PFD), commonly referred to as a lifejacket, for each person on board) and observe water and safety regulations. Jet skis, houseboats and floatplanes, are not permitted on the lake. Brown and rainbow trout are found in Lake Waikaremoana.
The weather at Lake Waikaremoana is changeable and can be cold and wet, even in summer.
Everyone needs to carry a sleeping bag, portable cooking stove, cooking utensils, sufficient high energy food (with some extra for emergencies), a waterproof raincoat and overtrousers, and warm (wool or fleece) clothing. A portable stove will also be needed. Boots are recommended for the Lake Track.
Native plants and animals must not be disturbed, destroyed or removed. The bush is a taonga, a treasure for all. Hunting is by permit only. Permits can be obtained from local Department of Conservation Offices.
For more information contact the
Wairoa Information Centre.
